1. Grand Lodge Balloting Procedure PRESENTED BY BALLOTING & REGISTRATION COMMITTEE RW BARRY P. KORNSPAN, CHAIRMAN

2. The Challenge… In a timely manner after voting is closed: - How do you determine a winner in an election with multiple candidates with the choice of every voting member able to be identified?

3. Goals - Make sure that the procedure can be easily implemented. - Make sure that the results are reportable, explainable and auditable. - Make sure that the procedure adheres to GL Constitution and Laws, including runoffs.

4. What C&L says about GL voting… Title Three, Article IV, Section 2 – Elections and Voting in the Grand Lodge Part 1 - Ballots shall be cast by the current officers (or proxy) of each Lodge in person at the Annual Communication - Ballots may be cast by Past Masters either in person or electronically via the Internet - A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to constitute a choice for the GL Elected Officers - If there is no choice on the first ballot, then a second ballot shall be taken, which shall be confined to the three candidates who shall receive the highest number of votes. Should there be no choice on the second ballot, then a third ballot shall be cast, which shall be confined to the two candidates who received the highest number of votes on the second ballot.

5. Process to be used… INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING (IRV) - Voters must rank ALL candidates, no matter how many, in their order of preference. - A brother will only need to go to a balloting machine once. - By ranking ALL candidates, the brother’s preference of those candidates still in a runoff can always be determined. - Offsite balloting can be done.

6. The overall process in words… Let’s assume there are five candidates for Junior Grand Warden: - A voter will rank ALL FIVE CANDIDATES in their order of preference. - Assuming that no candidate receives 50% + 1 vote of the ballots which rank them #1, the bottom two candidates will be dropped resulting in three candidates remaining (per C&L). - The top three candidates retain their #1 ranked ballots in a second ballot. However, we now need to determine who is the new #1 choice on those ballots which did not initially choose any of the top three candidates as their #1 preference (second ballot). This adheres to C&L which states that “a majority of ALL VOTES cast” will be used. - If none of the three candidates remaining receive 50% + 1 vote of the ballots after the second ballot, the bottom candidate (3 rd place) is dropped (per C&L). We now need to determine the choice on those ballots which did not pick either of the two candidates remaining as their #1 preference. Those votes are now calculated and a winner determined.

7. A sample voting screen…before. 111 1 1 22 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 55 5 55 Candidate 1Candidate 2 Candidate 3 Candidate 4 Candidate 5 Voting Instructions: -You must rank all five candidates using the numbered buttons. -A choice must be made in each row. When a choice is made, the other buttons will disappear. -To change your ranking, press the remaining button in a row again. This will bring back all buttons in that row. -A candidate may only be ranked once.

8. An example… Here’s a sample ranking on a brother’s ballot: Candidate 1:#3 rank Candidate 2:#2 rank Candidate 3:#4 rank Candidate 4:#1 rank Candidate 5:#5 rank Therefore, this brother’s highest preference is Candidate #4, followed by #2, #1, #3 and #5.

9. A sample voting screen…afterwards. 1 2 3 4 5 Candidate 1Candidate 2 Candidate 3 Candidate 4 Candidate 5 Voting Instructions: -You must rank all five candidates using the numbered buttons. -A choice must be made in each row. When a choice is made, the other buttons will disappear. -To change your ranking, press the remaining button in a row again. This will bring back all buttons in that row. -A candidate may only be ranked once.

10. How do we determine a choice on a second ballot? However, after all #1 votes are totaled on a first ballot, Candidates 2, 3 and 5 receive the highest three #1 vote totals with no one receiving 50% + 1 vote in order to win. Only those candidates will now remain for a second ballot. Remaining Candidates: Candidate 2:#2 initial rank on the brother’s ballot Candidate 3:#4 initial rank on the brother’s ballot Candidate 5:#5 initial rank on the brother’s ballot On the second ballot, this brother’s vote would now be for Candidate 2 as he received the highest ranking of the candidates remaining.

11. How do we determine a choice for a third ballot? However, after evaluating the second ballot votes, Candidates 3 and 5 had the highest two vote totals with neither receiving 50% + 1 vote of all votes cast, which dropped Candidate 2. Remaining Candidates: Candidate 3:#4 rank on the brother’s ballot Candidate 5:#5 rank on the brother’s ballot On the third ballot, this brother’s choice would be Candidate 3, as he received the highest ranking of those remaining. A winner could then be determined, as only two candidates remain.

12. In summary… - In each round of balloting, your vote is for your highest ranked candidate who is still in the race. - This process adheres to Grand Lodge Constitution and Laws with no amendments needed. - Results can be determined almost immediately.